The Marriage and Civil Partnership (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2020

Cancellation of registrations, and appeals against refusal or cancellation of registration

7.—(1) The Marriage Order is amended as follows.

(2) In Article 12(1) (grounds for cancellation of officiant’s registration)—

(a) in sub-paragraph (c) (marriage ceremony no longer contains appropriate declaration), after “ceremony used by that body” insert “for marriages of parties who are not of the same sex”, and

(b) before the “or” at the end of that sub-paragraph insert—

“(ca) that the marriage ceremony used by that body for marriages of parties who are of the same sex no longer contains an appropriate declaration within the meaning of Article 10(3A);”.

(3) In Article 12 (cancellation of registration), after paragraph (3) insert—

“(4) Where a person is registered under Article 11—

(a) for marriages of parties who are not of the same sex, and

(b) for marriages of parties who are of the same sex,

cancellation on the ground mentioned in paragraph (1)(a), (b), (c), (ca) or (d)(iv) may be of the person’s registration for one only of those descriptions of marriages.”.

(4) In Article 13 (appeals against refusal or cancellation of registration), after paragraph (2) insert—

“(2A) But there is no right of appeal—

(a) under paragraph (1)(b) where the refusal is under Article 10(1C); or

(b) under paragraph (2) in relation to so much of the cancellation as relates to marriages of parties who are of the same sex if—

(i) the cancellation in relation to marriages of that description is on the ground mentioned in Article 12(1)(a) or (b), and

(ii) the Registrar General has received written notice of the withdrawal of the consent of the body’s governing authority to the person solemnising marriages of parties who are of the same sex.”.